First Carlist War Game

Today we played our first games as a Group since 9 August. It was great to get together again.

The choice of period was the First Carlist War which I set up with a Carlist force of 21 battalions, six cavalry units plus two field guns and two mountain guns defending a small town in front of which ran a stream. All of the Carlist infantry, except for two small units, were classed as a raw, while the cavalry and artillery were rated trained. Opposing them was a Royalist force of 5 battalions of Royal Guards, 11 of line infantry, 4 battalions of British Legion, 4 battalions of the French Foreign Legion, five cavalry units 2 field guns, 2 mountain guns and two rockets. Of the Royalist force, the guard and French infantry, all the cavalry and artillery were rated trained, while all other troops were rated raw.

The Carlist sought to turn the Royalist right with the cavalry and infantry brigade (my command), while the Royalists decided to hold their right and attack with  the center and left against the Carlist position. 

So what actually happened? Well the Carlist cavalry did gain the Royalist right with some ease, but it took time. Eventually, supported by a brigade of  Carlist infantry, they succeeded in  breaking the French and then were poised to sweep into the Royalist rear. Royalist center tried to take the Carlist centre and made some headway but in then end failed because the collapse of the French freed up units to flank the centre Only on the Royalist left did the Royalist make headway, but the collapse of the troops to their right ended  the battle for them.

I am sure my friend Keith will post a view of the game from his side of the table.

So to my photos:

The Carlist cavalry commence their turning movement 

A brigade of Carlist infantry moves in support

The Royalist centre, the British in the lead, followed by the Royal Guard, advance

The Carlists put pressure on the French

The Carlist artillery in action

The Carlist cavalry sweep around the Royalist flank

The action on the Royalist left (Carlist right)

The Carlist cavalry engages the French...this shot was tajen just after the Polish Lancers were destroyed

The action on the Royalist left continues...complete with a rare “six” rolled by the Royalist player

The French collapsed leaving the centre exposed.

The Royalist on the left put pressure on the Carlists 

The Carlists in the centre press across the stream to engage the weakened Royalists 

My glorious Carlist cavalry

Another shot of my glorious cavalry 

More action on the Royalist Left

The Royalist heavy cavalry advance

The end of the game, only the Royalists on the left remain in action...the rest have quit the field

J